Internal combustion engine



Sept. 29, 1931. c. D. DAVIS Y 1,825,263

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 17 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Cz ARH/c5 Z). DHV/5 C. D, DAVIS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Sept.` 29, 1931.

Filed Aug. 17 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CLARENCE D, DAV/5 f6 ATTY,

Sept.' 29, 1931.

vc. D. DAVIS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 17. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 1 i S INVENTOR CLARE/1c@ D. DAV/ NNAHL ifs ATTY.

(Patented Sept. 29, 1931 PATENT OFFICE y CLARENCE D. DAVIS, F LOS-ANGELES, CALIFORNIA INTERNAL ooMBUsTroN ENGINE f Appuatipn mea August 17, 1929. vserieu No. $6,717.?,

My invention relates tof improvements vin* internal combustion engines, and particularly in that type of engine in which secondary pistons opposed tothe main power pistons are ,5 used, its essential object being to provide improvements in the construction of and operating means for the secondary pistons.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part'of this specification l VFigure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view offa four-cylinder unit embodying my features of construction.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line V2-'-2'ofFigure 1. Figure. 3is an end view'of the engine with the cover partly broken away.`

"Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4 4 of Figure 1, and Y Figures 5 to 8 are diagrammatic views il- 'lustrating successivefpositions ofthe engine Referring to the drawings, A represents the casing of theengine, and 10 a four-throw Y. crankshaft with the throws arranged 9()V degrees apart. a

The engine embodies cylinders 12, 13, 14 and 15, containing power pistons 16, 17, 18 and 19, operatively Connected to the crankshaft ,by rods 20, 21, 22 and 23; secondary pistons 24, 25, 26 and 27 are positioned in the cylinders and form the heads thereof, said pistons carrying plungers 28, 29, 30 and 31 respectively, which operate in cylinders 32, 33', 3 4 and 35 respectively. A conduit 36 connects'the heads of the cylinders 32,33, 34 and 35. A conduit V37 connects' the ylower ends of the cylinders 32V and 33 jwith the cylinder 38,

and a conduit 39 connects the lower ends of the cylinders`34 and 35 with the4 cylinder 40. Op- -0 erating within the cylinders 38 and 40 are pistons41 and 42, operatively connected with the crankshaft 43 by rods 44 and 45.

The crankshaft 43 has two crank-throws arranged at 180 degrees and is driven from the crankshaftY 10 at twice the speed of said crankshaft by the connecting gears 46 and 47. l

The conduit 36y contains a fluid for transmission of movement between the plungers J0 28 to 3l inclusive. The conduit 37 contains a' fluid for the transmission lof movement fromvthepiston 41 to the plungers 28 and 29. The conduit 39 containsafluid for the transmission of movement from the piston 42't'0 theplungers 30 and 31. y

Leakage of liquid from the conduits 36,37 and 39 is compensated for through the check valves 48, 49 and 50 from a source not shown. Any suitable means may be provided for accomplishing the' result just described.

A rotary valve 51 vis driven at'the speed of the crankshaft 10 by gears `47 'andV 53 and gears 54 and 55. The shaft 56 carrying the gears 53 and 54 is mounted in the cover 57. .Y

Rotary valve 51 controls ports 52 that are 65 formed in the wall of the engine cylinder' and which ports function as combined exhaust and gaseous fuel inlet ports.

The sequence of operations in each power cylinder is as follows:

The power piston, at approximately halfway on its down-stroke opens the ports 52 in its cylinder allowing relief of as pressure through the rotary valve. Vhen the pressurehas blown down, the opposing pisl* ton in the cylinder will start its down stroke, or exhaust stroke, and the power piston and the opposing piston will complete their down strokes at approximately the same time. The' secondary piston will then travel upward at approxmatelytwice the speed of the ower piston so that a charge of gas will be rawn in between said pistons through the rotary valve 51 and the ports 52 Vin the power cylinder.Y At approximately the time the secondary piston completes its up-stroke the powerA piston will close theports 52 in the ower cylinder and start compression of charge. On completion of compression the charge is fired and the cycle repeated;

Referring to Figure 5, the'piston 16 in the cylinder 12 is in position to start on the power stroke; the piston 17 in the'cylinder 13 has completedits down-stroke and the piston25 has forcedjout the burnt charge; the 95" piston 18 is on the down or power stroke, and

the piston 19 is on .the compression stroke.

During the next'quarter revolution of the crankshaft 10, the piston- 42 will completeits up-stroke forcing fluid through the conduit 100 20..- /duit 37 causing up-stroke or the plunger 30 39 thereby causing up-stroke of the plunger 29 carrying the piston 25. The separation of the pistons 17 and 25 causes intake of gas charge through the rotary valve and ports in the cylinder 13. The up-stroke of the plungei 29 will create a fluid pressure in the conduit 36. As an equal pressure is acting on the under sides of the plungers 28 Yand 29,-the relief for pressure in the conduit 36 will be through the down-stroke of the plunger 30 or 31. Since compressionwill takeplace-inzY the cylinder 15, and since the ports in the cylinder 14 will be openingto` permit. exs` haust of gases, the plunger 3() will be forced down carrying the piston 26 omits exhaust stroke. The pistons of the engine .will then bein the positions shown in Figure 6.

` During the next quarter revolution of the crankshaft 10, the piston 41 willcomplete its up-strok'e forcing the fluid through theconcarrying the piston 2G. The separation of the pistons 18 and 26 causes intake ofgas charge through the rotary valve and ports in the cylinder 14. rPhe up-stroke vof the plunger 30 will create a fluid pressure inthe coiiduit'36. As an equal pressure is actingV on lower ends of the pluiigers 30 and 31, thev relief for pressure in the conduit 36 will be through the down stroke of the plunger 28 or 29. Since compression willV take place in the cylinder 13, and since the ports in the cylinder 12 will permit exhaust of gases, the

plunger 28 will be forced down carryingthe zpiston 24 on its exhaust stroke. The pistons of the engine will then be in the positions shown in Figure 7.

During the next quarter revolution ofthe crankshaft 10, the piston 42 will complete its upstroke forcing the i'iuid through the conduit 39, causing upstroke of the-plunger28,'

carrying the piston 24. rThe separation of the pistons 1G and 24 causes intake of gas through the rotary valve and ports in the cylinder 12. The Lip-stroke of the plunger 28 will create a fluid pressure in the conduit 36.v As an. equal pressure is acting on the lower ends of the plungers 28 and 29, the relief for pressurein the yconduit 36 will be through the downstroke of the plunger 30 or 31. Since coinpression will take place in the cylinder 14, and

since the ports in the cylinder 15 will permit exhaust of gases, the plunger 31 will be forced down carrying the piston 2701i its exhaust stroke. The pistons of the engine will then be in the positions shown in Figure 8.-

During the next quarter revolution ofthe crankshaft 10, the piston 41 will complete its rip-stroke .forcing iuid throughthe conduit 37 causing Lip-stroke of the plunger'31'carrying the piston 27. The separation ofthe pistons 19 and 27 causes intake of gas through valve and poits in the cylinder 15.V The upstroke of the plunger 31 will create a fluid pressure in the conduit 36. As an equal pressure is acting on the lower ends of the plungers 30 and 31 the relief for pressure in the conduit 3G will be through the down stroke of the plunger 28 or 29. Since compression will take place in the cylinder 12 and since the 7 tracted areas ofthecylinders in wliiclrsaid? plunoers operate.

Referring to F ig. 1, ina two cylinder unit. comprising cylinders 12A and 13`With. their. pistons, andessential parts, the conduit 36' would lead to cylinder 40. In three orsix cylinder units the pistons corresponding .to 41.

and 42 in Fig. 1 .would operate at 4three tinies the .frequency of the power pistons, and .ports in power cylinders would beopened whena powerpistons had completed approximately two-thirds of their down Oipowerstrokes.

t will be understood. 4that the principle-.of

engine -whereiii'a Ycharge of air is takeninto the cylinder and fuel forced into-.said `charge` at approximately the time of completion-of compression of said charge.

Although 1 have described'the preferredfl form of my.inventionhereiinit.is.to beunderstood that I do not'liinit myself tothe particular construction shown, butinay modify the saine within the general scope of the invention as set forth in the followingclain'is.-.

l claim as my invention: 1. 1n an internal Acombustion engine, the combination of a craiikshaft',.a cylinder with a piston therein operatively connected to the.

crankshaft for pei'foriningpower andi-com.- pression strokes, a piston.in.saidcyliiiderop=y posed to said power pist'on,'li'quidpressure; means for operating .said last mentionedpis ton to drawin and expel gas from the cylinder, and valvular means for controlling the.

exhaust and intake of gas.

2. 1n an internal combustion engine, the. combination` of fa crankshaft, a. plurality 'of cylinders with pistons therein. operatively. connected to the crankshaft'for.performing power and compression strokes,z pistons .in said cylinders opposed tosaid pOWerpistOnS,

means for applyingliquid pressure to'operate pistons for \drawing.into.v

said last mentionedl and expelling gas from the.cylinder, .means for equalizing said pressure on certain of the last mentioned'pistons, .and valvular means for controlling the exhaust andintake of gas.

3. 1nv an internal combustion engine, .the

v this invention may be appliedfto that type of` combination of a powershaft, a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein operatively connected to the powershaft for performing power and compression strokes, pistons in said cylinders opposed to said power pistons, reciprocating means operated by the engine for applying liquid pressure to alternately operate said last mentioned pistons for drawing into and expelling gas from the cylinders, and valvular meansin connection with the cylinders for controlling the exhaust and intake of gas.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crankshaft, and a cylinder with opposed pistons therein; Aone of said pistons being operatively connected to the crankshaft for performing power and compression strokes, and the other piston being operatively connected to the crankshaft through an intermediate liquid, for drawing into and expelling gas from said cylinder.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crankshaft; a cylinder with opposed pistons therein, one of said pistons being operatively connected to the crankshaft for performing power and compression strokes; a liquid above the other said piston; and piston means operatively connected to the crankshaft for causing said liquid to ac- .tuate said second piston for drawing into and expelling gas from said cylinder.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crankshaft, a cylinder with a power piston therein operatively connected to the crankshaft, a second piston opposed to said power piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, liquid pressure means for operating the second piston, and valvular inlet and exhaust means for said cylinder; said power piston performing its power stroke while said second piston is at rest and said second piston being arranged to expel gas from the cylinder on its downstroke and to draw in gas on its up-stroke while the power piston is at the lower lend of itstravel.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of four cylinders with power pistons therein; pistons therein opposed to said power pistons, and operable through plungers adapted for reciprocation in tubes having their heads connected by a common manifold and their opposite ends connected in pairs by manifolds in communication respectively with two hydraulic cylinders; pistons within said hydraulic cylinders adapted to loperate at twice the frequency of the power pistons; manifolds, communications, and hydraulic cylinders for operating said plungers by displacement of said hydraulic pistons.-

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a plurality of power cylinders, powerv pistons in said cylinders, secondary pistons opposed to said power pistons, a liquid inconnection with said secondary pistubes, manifolds connecting equal numbers of the opposite ends of said tubes, means for actuating said plungers through the medium of a liquid in said tubes and manifolds, and valvular means in connection with said cylinders for controlling the intake and exhaust of gas.

10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders and power pistons operating therein, of auxiliary pistons operating in said cylinders opposite the power pistons to perform intake and exhaust strokes and means for operating said auxiliary pistons to cause them to perform intake and exhaust strokes, which means comprises plunger mechanism reciprocated by the engine in timed relation tiereto and a fluid pressure medium actuated by said reciprocating plunger mechanism for transmitting the actuating force to said auxiliary pistons. e

il. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders and power pistons operating therein, of auxiliary pistons operating in said cylinders opposite the power pistons to perform intake and exhaust strokes and means for operating said auxiliary pistons to cause them to perform intake and exhaust strokes, which means comprises plunger mechanism continuously reciprocated by the engine in timed relation thereto and a fluid pressure medium actuated by said reciprocating plunger mechanism for transmitting an actuating force to said auxiliary pistons. s

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLARENCE D. DAVIS.v

and a liquid within said tubes, Y 

